promoting college retention of low-income and first-generation students (part 1)
Post on 28-Nov-2014
1.441 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Promoting College Retention of Low-Income and First Generation Students
Greg JohnsonExecutive Director
B tt LiBottom Line&
Kolajo AfolabiDoctoral Candidate
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far
Presentation Overview
The Scope of the Problem
Bottom Line’s Model
Using Evaluation to Assess Performance
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far2
The Vanishing Pipeline
29643000
19042000
2500
1904
1000
1500
675500
1000
36% of attendees
23% of HS graduates
0Total HS
GradsCollege
AttendeesGraduates
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far3
Data from “Getting to the Finish Line” study by Northeastern University, Center for Labor Market Studies of BPS Class of 2000 after 7 years.
Graduates by Type of School
4-Year Colleges1230 E ll d-1230 Enrolled
-590 Graduated (48%)
2 Year Colleges-674 Enrolled-85 Graduated (13%)
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far4
Why Aren’t They Graduating?
Lack of Guidance upon College Entry– Poor advice throughout the application process leads to less than ideal
college lists and a lousy start to college experiencecollege lists and a lousy start to college experience
Academic Reasons– Many students are academically not prepared for the rigors of a college
education (competitive schools and non competitive schools)education (competitive schools and non-competitive schools)– Remedial courses are commonplace
Financial Reasons– They can’t afford the school they decide to attend– They are often working full-time (or close) during the school year
Personal/Emotional Reasons– Challenging lives create distractions which lead to academic and other
difficulties
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far5
What is Bottom Line?
Bottom Line’s mission is to build a better community through higher education by helping disadvantaged g g y p g gstudents get in to college, graduate from college and go far in life.
Founded in 1997– Founded in 1997– Independent from high schools and colleges– Located in Boston, MA and Worcester, MA– Launching in NYC in July 2011Launching in NYC in July 2011
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far6
Bottom Line Programs
Two programs support our mission:College Access (650 high school seniors)– Counselors provide students with one-on-one service
along the entire spectrum of the college application and financial aid processes
College Success (949 students)– We continue to support ~50% of the students from the
high school to college transition through to graduationhigh school to college transition through to graduation (based on the college they elect to attend)
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far7
Eligibility
Criteria to participate in Bottom Line:H t l t 2 5 GPA– Have at least a 2.5 GPA
AND– Come from a household with an AGI less than– Come from a household with an AGI less than
200% of the Federal Poverty guidelines– Be in the first generation in your family to go to
college
Note: All services are free of charge
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far8
g
For High School Seniors
In our College Access Program, Bottom Line provides one-on-one guidance through the entire application and decision process
Applications Decisions
Build a one-on-one l ti hi
Build a quality list of
potential
Support college essay
writing and
Help with financial aid
and h l hi
Review decisions
and financial id d
Help each student
make the right
choice
Applications Decisions
relationship potential colleges
writing and application completion
scholarship applications
aid award letters
choiceabout where
to attend college
“Wh I 14 I t t th U it d St t t li ith“When I was 14, I was sent to the United States to live with my father- a man I did not know. I was 16 when I moved out on my own. I worked 50 hours per week to pay rent, buy food and help my mom and sisters in Haiti. In my junior year of high school, I found out about Bottom Line. They became a parent to me. I started to believe in myself and that I could make it to college ”started to believe in myself and that I could make it to college.
Jerry AlciusRegis College ‘12
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far
Regis College 12
9
Bottom Line Method
Direct students to colleges with quality academic and other support programs in place
Bridge programs exist in many places and often are critical for– Bridge programs exist in many places and often are critical for early success
Insist they go to affordable schools and reduce financial burdenInsist they go to affordable schools and reduce financial burden where possible– Minimize/eliminate Private Loans
Remain engaged and manage problems closely through one-on-one mentoring and intrusive advising– Make frequent visits-create a stalking mentalityMake frequent visits create a stalking mentality
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far10
College SuccessIn our College Success Program, we provide one-on-one support for up to six years using our 4-tiered support model (DEAL) to give students the tools to succeed
College SuccessWhen my mother passed away, I didn’t know what to do I called Bottom Line They
eal) A
id
abili
ty
ee
know what to do. I called Bottom Line. They kept me company as I created the funeral plans. With Bottom Line’s help, I arranged to take a leave of absence to care for my brother and sister, since our mother, our sole supporter, was gone. But, Bottom Line made s re that this tra ma in m life onl
Life
(Fin
anci
a
Empl
oya
Deg
re made sure that this trauma in my life only sidetracked me, but did not derail me from my goal of getting a college degree.
Majory GabrielUMass Boston ‘09
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far11
The Keys to College Success - DEAL
DEGREE-Select a major that’s the right fit
AID-Renew scholarship and financial aid j g
-Assess your credits to make sure you’re on track-Interpret your syllabi to succeed in each class-Identify and use strategies to improve
papplications-Figure out how to pay your balance-Troubleshoot problems with your bill-Assess your debty g p
performance-Connect with tutoring, advising, and other resources
y-Make good decisions about finances
E LEMPLOYABILITY-Find a career path that fits your interest and skillsSecure summer internships and part time jobs
LIFE-Send cards and care packages during the year-Make monthly on-campus visits and call and email often-Secure summer internships and part-time jobs
-Write and update your resume and cover letter-Connect with Bottom Line-specific internships-Build a unique professional “brand”
email often-Be there to listen whenever you need it-Challenge you to work hard to achieve your goalsHelp you solve problems whenever we can
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far
-Help you solve problems whenever we can
12
Summer Transition to College
Success Kick-Off– Explanation of program benefits and get commitment to remain
engagedg g
Success Summer Checklist Meeting– One-on-one meetings to ensure students are ready, covering
H lth C W i H i F L P i N tHealth Care Waivers, Housing Forms, Loan Promissory Notes, Payment Plans, Course Registration, etc…
College Training CampCollege Training Camp– Day of activities to introduce our DEAL curriculum and discuss
the challenges of life as a college student
Summer Send-Off– Late summer party with all students. Includes team building by
campus destination
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far13
School Year Support Calendar
Semester 1– First Week Visit– Group Event on Campus– Mid-Semester Check-In Visit
Semester 2– Early Semester Visit– Group Event on Campus– Mid-Semester Check-In VisitMid Semester Check In Visit
– Semester-End Check-In/Course Registration Visit
– Pre-Finals Phone Call
Communications:C P k t Mid T
Mid Semester Check In Visit– Financial Aid Renewal Visit– End of Semester Check-In/Course
Registration Visit– Job/Internship Advising– Pre-Finals Phone Call
– Care Package at Mid-Term– Good Luck Card– Thanksgiving Card– Holiday Card– Birthday Card
Communications:– Care Package at Mid-Term– Happy Valentine’s Card– Congratulations Card– Bi-Weekly Summer Job Bulletin Email
Winter Break– Diagnostic Assessment
(January)R S t
– Bi-Weekly Summer Job Bulletin Email
Summer Break– Diagnostic Assessment (June)– Summer Course Registration
– Resume Support– Job/Internship Advising– Go Far Forum (Career Fair)
– Job/Internship Support– Financial Aid Advising/Advocacy
Additional visits and calls may be added basedti d t d t t t
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far14
on conversations and student status
Assessing Student Progress
Following each semester, we implement an assessment of each student using a Rubric to alertassessment of each student using a Rubric to alert us when a student is in danger
- Red: Has a problem that requires immediate attention and is in danger of not graduating
- Yellow: Caution- something on the horizon that bears watching
- Green: Student appears on track to graduateGreen: Student appears on track to graduate
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far15
Degree
Indicators Red Yellow Green
Semester P f
Semester GPA below 2.0 One or more F’s, I’s
Semester GPA 2.0 to 2.3T D’
Semester GPA 2.31 or betterN th 1 D
e
Performance ,Two or more W’s Two or more D’s
Two or more W’sNo more than 1 DNo more than 1 W
Cumulative Performance Cumulative GPA below 2.0 Cumulative GPA 2.0 to
2.3Cum. GPA 2.31 or better
Not on track to graduate in Not likely on track to Definitely on track to
egre
e Progress toward Degree
Not on track to graduate in expected time frame (8,10,12 semesters)
ygraduate in expected time frame (8,10,12 semesters)
ygraduate in expected time frame (8,10,12 semesters)
Not a fit, not in desired major Mediocre fit, may not be able to handle Good fit, can handle
De
Major Fit
jyet, or not handling academic requirements of major, will not graduate in this major
be able to handle academic requirements of this major, may not graduate in this major
academic requirements, should graduate in this major
Course Registration
Has not registered for courses for Spring semester
Course registration needs improvement
Course registration is all set, registered for right classes
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far16
Employability
Work Experience No job ever
Only one “quality” work experience (3 months duration, 15+ hrs per
2+ “quality” work experiences (3 months duration, 15+ hrs per
Indicators Red Yellow Green
bilit
y week) week)
ExtracurricularExperience
(after high school)
Has no extracurricular experience, volunteer experience, leadership experience
Has one extracurricular experience, volunteer experience, leadership experience (level of i l t i l t)
Has several extracurricular experiences, volunteer experiences, leadership experiences (level of
oyab
p involvement is relevant) p (involvement is relevant)
Personal Brand
Very Rough – needs work in all of the following areas: confidence, attitude, people skills
Slightly rough – needs some work in one or some of following areas: confidence, attitude people skills
Polished - confident, positive attitude, good people skills, good communicator
Empl
people skills, communication skills
attitude, people skills, communication skills
communicator
Resourcefulness
Not Resourceful. Not responsive to BL help, doesn’t seek other help, hard for him/her to get a job
Tries to be resourceful but isn’t always successful. Open to help, but doesn’t always get good results
Resourceful - able to find jobs/opportunities independently. Takes advantage of BL help and school career servicesE job. get good results. school career services
Future PlansDoesn’t have a plan or has a plan that definitely won’t lead to a positive result
Has a plan which may not lead to positive result.
Has plan which will definitely lead to positive result.
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far17
Aid
Indicators Red Yellow Green
d
Current Semester Bill
Status
Balance due for Spring 2010 on account, student having trouble
Balance due, student should be all set figuring
Balance will be paid on time, or no balance
Indicators Red Yellow Green
Aid Status having trouble
paying it out how to pay it, needs follow up
or no balance
Financial Aid
Financial Aid applications (FAFSA other
Unsure of status of Financial Aid
Financial Aid applications (FAFSA otherApplication
Status
(FAFSA, other required forms) are incomplete
of Financial Aid applications
(FAFSA, other required forms) are complete
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far18
Life
Not stable, Sort of stable, i d St bl
Indicators Red Yellow Green
Stability
Not stable, significant and immediate issues
ongoing and likely manageable issues
Stable, no immediate issues
Poor coping
Life Coping Skills
p gskills & strategies, needs a lot of attention and assistance with problem
Mediocre coping skills, needs some attention & assistance with problem solving
Good coping skills, able to deal with problems as they ariseL with problem
solvingproblem solving they arise
College
Poor fit with college culture—very unhappy
Mediocre fit with college culture leads to periods
Good fit with college culture, generallyFit very unhappy,
negatively affecting life
of unhappiness, usually manageable
generally happy at school
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far19
Reasons for Evaluation
12 years of practical experience and 18 months of codificationcodificationNot enough money or patience for a 6 year, double-blind rigorous evaluationblind rigorous evaluationThe evolution of our program model created an interesting and worthy comparison group of Access te est g a d o t y co pa so g oup o ccessOnly and Success Program students
Success depends on you Get In Graduate Go Far20
top related